ELECTION: What have the Conservative Party done for young adults since 2010?

THE word 'austerity' has been frequently used since the coalition government was formed in 2010, but are times really as hard as what was experienced after World War II?

SIGNAGE: Signs promoting Graham Evans are located around Weaver Vale

With food and supplies in short demand, the term reflected the tough times which was felt during the late 1940s/ early 1950s.

This period was later dubbed the ‘Austerity Years’. With that in mind, are the young adults of today set to experience a similar period?

Graham Evans, who is standing for the Tories in the constituency of Weaver Vale, believes not.

“We want to help the next generation to succeed, that starts with getting a good education and gaining the skills to get on in life.

“We are raising education standards, improving the quality of teaching and creating a more credible exam system, so school-leavers are in a stronger position to go on to further study or get a good job.”

Despite university fees rising to £9000 under the coalition, Graham explained how getting a degree is a good option: “Graduates earn more over the course of their lives than non-graduates.

“We have removed the cap on the number of university places there are, so more young people can have the chance to get a degree.

“Our changes to student funding, though controversial, have made university more affordable and attainable,” said the former Manchester Metropolitan student.

He continued: “There are no upfront fees, more generous grants and bursaries for poorer students, and graduates only start to repay their fees when they can afford to.

“The richest graduates contribute more, and those who earn less will have their liability written-off after 30 years.

“Since we made our changes, more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds have started university study. “

CONTACT: Graham offers help and advice to Weaver Vale constituents

As well as changing the university system, the Conservative party have also offered young adults more apprenticeship schemes.

“Since 2010 we have already created over 2.2 million apprenticeships, enabling more young people to learn a trade and get on in life,” said Graham.

“Under Labour, youth unemployment rose by 45 percent, but since 2010, the number of young people not in education, employment or training has fallen by almost 150,000 to its lowest level for more than eight years.

“Youth unemployment is down by 181,000 over the past year, this hasn’t happened by accident,” he added, “it has been because of the hard work of the British people and because the government has been working to a long-term economic plan.”

It’s not only educational schemes which have changed under the Tories, as a new housing system has been introduced, something of which Graham was buoyant about.

“To help young people who cannot afford a deposit for a flat or a house to get on the housing ladder, we have established the Help to Buy scheme, which has already helped over 88,000 people, mainly first time buyers, achieve their dream of owning their own home.

“We are taking decisions for the long-term because we have a responsibility to the next generation for the world we pass on.

“Our plan is working, with more jobs, more apprenticeships and more university places.”